Cecilia

Cecilia, who is 61, sells a range of goods such as footwear and clothing, lingerie and bed linen. She set up her business 31 years ago as an alternative means of generating an income to support her family which consisted of her husband and 4 now grown-up children. Her determination and hard work enabled her to contribute to her family's livelihood, since what her husband earned was not enough. She sells her goods among her neighbours and friends and people to whom they have recommended her, and this has helped her increase her clientele. She has been granted 21 loans by the Fundación Mario Santo Domingo, with whose support she has been able to make progress along with her business. The funds have helped her to increase her working capital. Her ambition for the future is to have a shop window and display case so that she can organise her business more, whilst her greatest challenge is to establish a portfolio of accounts to recover amounts owed more effectively and avoid losing money when selling on credit to customers who lack the ability to pay. She is currently applying for a Kiva loan which she will use to make bulk purchases of footwear, women's, men's and children's clothing and household goods (because Christmas and the New Year are coming) and she needs to have enough stock to be able to respond to the growing demand for goods at this time of year and the special prices of the supply side of the market.

Additional Information

About Fundación Mario Santo Domingo

Fundación Mario Santo Domingo (FMSD) is a non-profit organization in northern Colombia dedicated to developing programs for the country’s poorest communities. In addition to numerous social services, FMSD runs a microfinance program to strengthen micro-businesses in the areas where it works. The organization also offers several non-financial components as part of this program, including training to help entrepreneurs start their own businesses.